mini-file-format

Minimalized ini format with concrete format rules. Meant to be easily read and easily parsed. Ends with .mini i.e. config.mini.

Implementations

Name	Language	Serialize	Deserialize	License	Notes
minipp	C++14	Yes	Yes	MIT	Header Only
MiniSharp	.NET 6.0	Yes	Yes	MIT	Supports Reflection

Format Details

The .mini format is designed to be simple, easy to read, and easy to parse. It has a strict but straightforward structure that keeps things consistent while staying lightweight. Whether you're using it for configuration files, data storage, or serialization, the goal is to make sure both humans and programs can understand it with minimal effort.

Below are the concrete rules governing sections, keys, values, and supported data types.

Sections and Keys

• Sections are denoted by square brackets ([Section]).
• Subsections are nested within sections using dot notation ([Section.Subsection]).
• All (sub-) sections must be explicitly defined before used elsewhere.
• All (sub-) sections may only be defined once.
• (Sub-) sections can be empty.
• Keys within (sub-) sections use key = value syntax and are seperated by new-lines.
• Key and (sub-) section names may only contain a-z, A-Z, 0-9, and _.
• Values may never reach over multiple lines.
• Empty keys (i.e., keys without values) are not allowed.
• Whitespaces are ignored as long as they don't split up names or values.
• Whitespaces are not allowed during (sub-) section declaration.
• Empty lines are ignored.
• Comments are denoted by # and may only appear on separate lines.
• Cases are sensitive (for both names and values), except where otherwise noted.
• The underlying size of any type is application specific.
• The parsing behavior of an illformed file is undefined.

Supported Data Types

The format supports the following data types:

Integer

• Defined as a sequence of digits (0-9).
• May be suffixed with h to be interpreted as hexadecimal (0-9, a-f, A-F).
• May be suffixed with b to be interpreted as binary (0-1).
• May contain underscores (_) for better readability.
• Example: value = 5
• Example: hexValue = FA8h
• Example: binValue = 0010010b
• Example: anotherDec = 1_000_375

String

• Strings are enclosed in double quotes ("").
• Strings support escape sequences using backslashes (\).
• Supported escape sequences:
  • \" for a double quote (")
  • \n for a newline
  • \t for a tab
  • \r for carriage return
  • \\ for a backslash
• Strings may be empty.
• Example: string = "My string"
• Example: string = "Line 1\nLine 2"
• Example: string = "Tab\tSeparated"
• Example: string = "My \"escaped\" String"
• Example: string = "My string with a \\ <- backslash"
• Example: emptyString = ""

Array

• Arrays are enclosed in square brackets ([]) and contain comma-separated values.
• Arrays may contain whitespaces, as long as they don't split up values.
• Arrays may not end on a comma.
• Arrays may only contain one datatype at a time.
• Arrays may only have one dimenstion.
• Arrays may be of any positive length.
• Arrays may be empty.
• Example: array = [5, 6, 10]
• Example: emptyArray = []

Boolean

• Boolean values are represented as either true or false.
• Example: myBool = false

Floating-Point Numbers

• Floating-point numbers use . for decimal notation or e/E for scientific notation.
• Floats always end with f.
• Floats may also be whole numbers without a decimal point.
• Example: anotherValue = 1.065f
• Example: thisToo = 1e18f
• Example: scientificFloat = 1.534E3f
• Example: wholeFloat = 1f
• Example: wholeFloat = 5.f

Array of Subsections

Arrays of subsections are implicty realizable by naming subsections and do not need specific parsing rules. We recommend using something alike the following structure:

[Database]
Version = 1

[Database.Persons]
[Database.Persons.0]
Name = "John Smith"
Age = 36

[Database.Persons.1]
Name = "Emily Johnson"
Age = 24

As mentioned above, it is to be handled like any other subsection - that means not starting at index 0 or having discontinuous indicies do not make the file illformed.

Example Structure

[MySection]
myInteger = 5
myString = "My String"
myArray = [5, 6, 10]
myBool = false

# A comment
[MySection.MySubsection]
myFloat = 1.065f
myFloat2 = 1e18f
hexValue = FA8h

[MySection.MySubsection.AnotherSubsection]
binValue = 0010010b

# Another comment
anotherDec = 1_000_375

What not to do

[My-Section]                 | Invalid character in section name.
myFloat = 1.5                | Should always end with f.
myBool = True                | Should not be capitalized.
myArray = [5, "Hi"]          | Arrays may only contain one datatype at a time.
myArray2 = [[5, 6], 1]       | Arrays may only have one dimension.
myString = 'Hello'           | Strings may only be encapsulated by ".
my-value = 5                 | Invalid character in key.

[MyOtherSection.Subsection]  | "MyOtherSection" has not been defined before.
myValue = 16 # a comment     | Inline comments are not allowed.
myArray = [5, 9,]            | Arrays may not end on a comma.
abc =                        | Keys may not contain empty values-

[ MyOtherSection]            | Whitespaces are not allowed during section declaration.
myArray = [                  | Values may not span over multiple lines.
            [5, 7],
            [9, 2]
          ]